Shou Sugi Ban - Does anyone have any advice based on experience?

[Sir Stinkalot]

What a handy little forum this is. I have been keen on Shou Sugi Ban for a while now and just needed a project to give it a go on. I have a small garden seat / screen that I want to use Jarrah battens on and thought this would be a good candidate for Shou Sugi Ban.

Anyway there are always other projects that take priority, but today I grabbed an off cut of Red Gum and hit it with the blow torch to see what happens. It took a while to get the charring to happen but once it warmed up it was a little quicker. I'm very happy with the finish and want the "gatored look", but was planning on asking the forum a few questions tonight about the char rub and the use of Jarrah.

It seems like the leg work has already been done before by TC. I was keen not to have to apply any oil but did want to avoid the char rub. As its just a screen, long term water tightness and durability is not a concern as it would be for a cladding. TC seems to have done a great service and I am heartened by the comment: "But I've discovered that oiled or not, the char rub/run off stops after a few days in the rain or a couple of soaks with a hose so I'm less concerned about that now." I have left my sample out where the screen goes to see what happens until I am ready to kick off the project again.

TC - Reading you posts you seemed to get a little disappointed that there seemed to be little interest at the start. Sometimes with specialty topics they are a long burn (pardon the pun). Your research and willingness to share has provided valuable research for another user a few years later and that is the benefit of this forum. I even know which is the best torch to purchase!

Cheers

Stinky

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[Sir Stinkalot]

It was interesting that this afternoon on the ride home from work I spotted some charred timber in the driveway of a property that is under renovation a block away from home. It seemed to be a commercial product, a softwood by the looks of it. The have clad the western side of an extension. It’s visible from the street so it would be interesting to see how it holds up. I might have a chat to the builder if they are around tomorrow.

[TychoCaine]

Hello All,

Just a quick update for posterity... all of my original samples are still out in the weather and both the jarrah and pine still look fantastic, have remained jet black without any fading or silvering and have zero char rub off.
Water no longer beads on any of them but I'd guess it's been more than 2 years since the tung oil (on the samples that have it) so that's not that surprising.

Unfortunately the recycled jarrah has proven too expensive to have machined into a shiplap profile and "new" jarrah is far too expensive for my budget so I'm currently considering some very nice (and affordable) larch I found via a local supplier. It is imported from overseas which slightly bothers me but the pricing is good and it's a species that's regularly used for SSB overseas so it's my current pick.

I'll update again once have made a final choice and then regularly during construction (which is due to start early 2019).

Stinky - I'm glad the thread has been useful for you... knowledge should be shared and that was always my goal. Congratulations on the seat, it looks great!

TC